A strong weekend showing at the Pioneer Posse Grounds keeps the WWCC rodeo teams on task.

MILTON-FREEWATER -- Walla Walla Community College cowboys and cowgirls kept their drive for another trip to the National Collegiate Rodeo Finals alive here Sunday in rodeo action at the Pioneer Posse rodeo grounds.

The Warriors' Nick Gutzwiler came back from a third-place finish in Saturday's bareback, drew a familiar horse, and rode to a 77 on Sunday to earn first place money and points.

"I had a good horse, she bucks every time," Gutzwiler said. "I got on her at the WWCC rodeo (in March). I won that rodeo on her also. I knew her pretty good."

The Warriors head to the last regular-season rodeo in Hermiston Saturday looking to earn individual honors as well as a team trip to Nationals after final tabulation of the season. Gutzwiler is in a good spot.

"I'm winning the bareback right now," Gutzwiler said. "It's all based on points, and if you are in the top three, you go to Nationals."

Brice Baggarley and Ross O'Sullivan started a winning trend in tie-down roping for the Warriors in Saturday action. Baggarley and O'Sullivan both got their calf tied in 10.9 to tie for first.

"It was one of my better runs of the year," Chambers said. "It was a good calf and he ran real straight. My horse didn't have a lot of chance to give me a good set, but it was a pretty smooth run. I caught him right outside the chute, and got out on him really good."

Chambers used his Saturday run to get ready for his title go Sunday.

"I hit my rope on the pole on the way out of the healing box," Chambers commented. "That messed up my chances to win, but it set me up pretty good for today."

The Warriors posted wins in both gos of barrel racing. Liz Combs posted a 17.26 Saturday run to win the go.

On Sunday, it was Alyson Kennedy's turn. Kennedy made the circuit in a Sunday-best 17.31.

"It (the run) went really good," Kennedy said. "The ground was a little deep, but my horse handled it. I was setting third in the region before this weekend, and I won third yesterday (Saturday). Yesterday, they ran a 17.2, and I wasn't quite that fast today, but it was a little bit deep today."

Kennedy, as do her teammates, has her eyes set on Nationals.

"I'm setting in there right now, if next week end goes well (Kennedy will finish in the top three)," Kennedy added. "We'll go (practice) a couple of times to keep him (her horse) in shape."

Zack Bright, in bareback, earned the third Saturday championship for the Warriors with a 69 ride.

The Warriors hosted this rodeo, in addition to their annual March event, as Washington State University and the University of Idaho chose not to host.